National Minority Health Month: Be the Change!

To wrap up National Minority Health Month, it is important to outline some of the steps we can take to help eliminate health disparities. These steps all include you! Age, sex, ethnicity, religion, language, sexual orientation and socioeconomic background do not matter when it comes to making a positive change in your life!

Take Charge of Your Health

Change begins with you! Though there are many external factors that can have an impact on our health, we have the power to make little changes that can make a big difference in our lives. For example, getting regular exercise does not always have to involve long hours at the gym. Walking instead of taking the train to work or school, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can add physical activity to your day. Invest in a pedometer and/or use a calculator for an estimate of the calories you’ve burned. Work with your physician to come up with a safe exercise plan.

Making small changes to your diet can also have a big impact on your health. Control the amount of food you eat at each meal. Reduce your intake of sugary drinks like soda and artificial fruit juice, and instead drink water. Eat less processed junk food like fast food, potato chips, cookies, and sugary candy. You can treat yourself to your small “guilty pleasure” snacks a few times a week. Don’t completely cut out treats as this can make you feel deprived, but greatly reduce unhealthy food packed with sugar, fat and preservatives. Balance is the key! Also, use of a free, online calorie counter such as My Fitness Pal to keep track of your diet and physical activity habits. This website also allows you to access a free app on your phone. Quit smoking and reduce your alcohol intake. These two steps paired with physical activity and a good diet can lower your risk of obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Work with your physician or a nutritionist to develop a regular healthy diet!

Go for regular check-ups. Whether you visit a physician in her private practice, or visit your local health clinic—go regularly! The best way to stay healthy is to prevent disease before it begins. In the case you have developed a health problem, treating it early can yield better health outcomes. Make sure to be tested regularly for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, and keep your immunizations current. In addition to a primary care provider, women can see a gynecologist at least once a year. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that teenage girls start seeing a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15. Developing a relationship with your physician early on can have a positive impact on your health! Please note that your health needs change as you age. Please visit this website for recommendations for your age group: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002125.htm

Stay Informed

Keep an eye out for current events and stories related to health (and all other issues). Before we can come up with a solution, we must know the problem! In the case of health disparities, exploring the problem and devising a solution will happen simultaneously but we must stay informed and aware. Reading the paper or online news articles, even if just for a few minutes a day, will empower you to formulate your own ideas about the world!

Spread the Word

You can be the teacher! Once you have taken control of your health and have been informed of the issues affecting your health, you can spread the word. By taking charge of your health you may inspire others to do the same. Even if you do not have a career in health care, just by talking and raising awareness about health disparities can help enact change!

For a list of resources regarding health disparities visit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hsrinfo/disparities.html